An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has recorded 2,325 deaths, surpassing the 2,299 deaths from the 2018‑2020 outbreak and becoming the deadliest in the country's history, according to the National Public Health Institute. Health officials report 4,945 confirmed infections, including 101 new cases in the past 24 hours, and the outbreak is spreading across six provinces. The current outbreak, the 17th in the DRC, began on May 15 and has accelerated due to weak health infrastructure, the region's remoteness, and ongoing conflict near the borders with South Sudan, Uganda and Rwanda. Tom Fletcher, the United Nations humanitarian chief, said speed, scale and solidarity are needed before the virus outpaces response efforts. World Health Organization Director‑General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the outbreak is on track to exceed the size of the 2014‑2016 West African epidemic, which killed more than 11,000 people. The disease is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola virus, which has no approved vaccines or treatments. The case fatality ratio has risen from about 20 percent in early June to 46 percent, according to government data. Public health specialist Thomas Parisch of Doctors Without Borders noted that many cases are identified after patients die in the community, reducing treatment effectiveness. Experimental vaccines and therapies are being evaluated, but evidence remains limited to animal studies. The outbreak continues to grow, and health authorities have not yet determined whether existing treatments can protect patients.
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Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, visited the USS Lincoln aircraft carrier on Saturday, concluding a regional tour that included stops in Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the U.S. Central Command said. The carrier, which has been at sea for more than 240 days, is part of the U.S. effort to enforce a naval blockade on Iranian ports.
The blockade was imposed after U.S. and Israeli strikes began on February 28, following Iran's assertion of control over the Strait of Hormuz; prior to the conflict, the strait handled a large share of global oil and gas traffic. Diplomatic efforts to manage the strait involve Iran and Oman, while negotiations between the United States and Iran have stalled.
Cooper praised the carrier's leadership for emphasizing mental health and resilience among its crew, noting the extended deployment. He also met with civilian and military officials in the six countries visited, according to CENTCOM.
Jared Kushner, a U.S. negotiator and son‑in‑law to former President Donald Trump, met with Hamas leader Khalil al‑Hayya in Egypt on Sunday, a meeting confirmed by regional and Hamas officials speaking on condition of anonymity. Kushner was accompanied by envoys from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, and discussed a roadmap calling for Hamas disarmament, Israeli withdrawal and the transfer of authority to Palestinian technocrats. Kushner will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, and earlier met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el‑Sisi, whose office said the discussion focused on fulfilling ceasefire obligations in Gaza.
Netanyahu has rejected a proposed ceasefire plan that would require Israeli withdrawal from territories it controls until Hamas is completely disarmed, a position he reiterated after meeting with Kushner and other envoys.
In the Lebanon front, Israeli forces struck two Hezbollah commanders in southern Lebanon on Saturday, killing at least 11 people, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry and state news agency. The military said the targeted individuals were senior commanders involved in attacks on Israeli soldiers.
An Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis wounded five people, including a child, and killed a member of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the military said. Since the October ceasefire, Gaza health officials report at least 1,262 Palestinian deaths, a figure cited by UN agencies and independent experts as generally reliable, though it does not differentiate between civilians and militants.
Israeli lawmaker Itamar Ben‑Gvir publicly advocated nightly killings of 30 to 40 people in Gaza during a podcast interview, a statement that has been presented as evidence in international proceedings; Israel denies allegations of genocidal intent.
Iran alleged that Qatar is holding three of its pilots who disappeared in March after their jets were downed, a claim Qatar denies; Iran's Missing Persons Committee commander urged Qatar to permit a field investigation, marking the first known instance in which Iran says a regional state is detaining its fighters.
Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben‑Gvir said on a podcast that he supports nightly targeted killings of 30 to 40 people in Gaza, regardless of immediate threat.
He made the remarks during an interview with former hostage Rom Braslavski on Braslavski’s podcast on Sunday.
The discussion focused on Israel’s response to the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, and on the recent reduction of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.
Ben‑Gvir stated that Israel should conduct nightly targeted assassinations, taking down 30 to 40 individuals regardless of whether they pose an immediate threat. He added that many people in Gaza are not worthy of life and should not be allowed to live.
He also advocated for the mass emigration of Palestinians from Gaza and for Israel to resettle the territory, proposals that international lawyers have said could constitute ethnic cleansing. He said settlements should be expanded throughout Gaza, encouraging as much emigration as possible and leaving no possibility for the remaining population to leave.
Ben‑Gvir’s comments emerged as the Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, limited the authority for conducting airstrikes to the army’s chief of staff, a move that has drawn criticism from right‑wing coalition members. The reduction in strikes follows a quiet concession to U.S. President Donald Trump after Netanyahu rejected his latest proposal to advance the truce.
Palestinian media widely reported the statements, which have been presented as evidence in genocide proceedings before the International Court of Justice. Ben‑Gvir, who oversees Israel’s prisons and national police, does not have authority over the military and cannot order strikes. His influence over security services has grown since the October 7 attack, when Hamas killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.
Netanyahu has reiterated that Israel will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas is completely disarmed, leaving other elements of the ceasefire, including international forces and reconstruction, on hold. The statement highlights the rise of far‑right viewpoints within the coalition ahead of the October 27 parliamentary election.
President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon on Monday to substantially reduce planned joint military exercises with South Korea, hours before they were to begin. The 11‑day drill involves roughly 18,000 South Korean and U.S. troops and emphasizes drone warfare, GPS disruption and cyber operations. Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that he was unhappy with the drills, describing them as "inappropriate and hostile" and noting the cost to the United States. He instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to "substantially reduce" the exercises rather than cancel them. Analysts said that downsizing the drills could harm alliance coordination, slow South Korea’s move toward greater self‑defence and weaken deterrence in the region. North Korea has condemned the exercises as rehearsals for invasion and warned it could respond with a new level of deterrent. The United States stations about 28,500 troops in South Korea to counter Pyongyang’s threats, a legacy of the 1950‑53 Korean War armistice. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who took office in June 2025, has offered talks with Pyongyang without preconditions and aims to formally end the Korean War, but North Korean leaders have said they will continue to accelerate their armament build‑up. The Pentagon said the exercise will proceed as scheduled, and the South Korean defence ministry confirmed it will carry out the drills as previously notified.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz slowed after a series of tanker attacks, data released on August 16, 2026, showed. The Strait is a major oil transit route for countries in Asia and the Middle East. The International Maritime Organization reported a 12 percent reduction in vessel traffic compared with the previous week. Regional naval forces confirmed three incidents involving tankers between August 10 and August 15. Shipping companies rerouted vessels to alternative passages, increasing transit times by an average of two days. Oil analysts noted a modest rise in spot prices as market participants monitored the situation. The Iranian Ministry of Defence stated that investigations were ongoing and that no casualties were reported. The duration of the slowdown remains unclear as investigations continue.
President Donald Trump announced that the United States will substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea. He said the drills are costly and send an inappropriate hostile signal according to a post on his Truth Social account. Seoul officials responded that the exercises will proceed as scheduled.
About 18000 South Korean soldiers and roughly 28500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea and regularly participate in the annual drills. The training is intended to maintain readiness and deter North Korean threats especially after recent North Korean missile tests.
Trump noted his "very good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and referenced a prior request for South Korea to join the United States in the denuclearization of Iran which Seoul declined. North Korea has not yet commented on the announcement.
Leif-Eric Easley a professor at Ewha University in Seoul said scaling back the exercises could damage alliance coordination slow South Korea's assumption of defense responsibilities and weaken deterrence against potential conflicts in Asia He added that the marginal cost savings are unlikely to offset the diplomatic risks.
The reduction echoes previous moves by Trump in 2018 and 2020 when he suspended or scaled down the drills during denuclearisation talks and the Covid-19 pandemic He has repeatedly criticized the financial burden of U.S. forces in the region and urged allies to increase contributions.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has called for talks with North Korea to formally end the Korean War an armistice that has been in place since 1953 The current proposal may influence future diplomatic engagement with Pyongyang.
President Donald Trump instructed the Pentagon on Sunday to scale back the annual joint military exercises with South Korea, saying the ally had declined to assist with U.S. efforts against Iran and emphasizing his personal relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
The Pentagon said the exercises involve roughly 18,000 South Korean personnel and are scheduled to begin on Monday, aiming to improve readiness against North Korean threats and to reinforce the U.S.-South Korea alliance.
The United States military described the drills as part of the Ulchi Freedom Shield program, a series of combined operations designed to maintain regional peace and demonstrate the ironclad commitment of the two nations.
Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona criticized the decision on social media, calling the reduction of exercises shortsighted and a mistake.
North Korean state media said the drills constituted a rehearsal for an aggressive war and warned of unspecified stern measures against the United States and South Korea.
Trump previously described the exercises as provocative and said they would be halted unless negotiations with North Korea progressed, a stance he reiterated after meeting Kim Jong Un in 2019.
During a Pentagon meeting in May, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised South Korea for its commitment to increase defense spending and for assuming primary responsibility for security on the Korean Peninsula.
The exercises had been planned as part of a broader effort to counter recent North Korean ballistic missile launches, which occurred days before the scheduled start of the drills.
The reduction of the drills leaves the future of U.S.-South Korea military coordination uncertain as both sides await further developments in diplomatic talks with North Korea.
Four panels by Antonello da Messina were stolen from the Regional Interdisciplinary Museum of Messina on Saturday night, according to Italian officials. The works, which include three panels of the 1473 Polyptych of San Gregorio and a double‑sided Madonna and Child in Pietà panel, were taken after the alarm system failed to trigger, police said. Investigators suspect the theft was commissioned by black‑market art dealers and estimate the combined value at about €9 million (£7.8 million). Mayor Federico Basile called the incident a heinous criminal act that violates the city’s heritage, while Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli described the pieces as of extraordinary value. Authorities are pursuing leads and have not recovered the paintings.
Jared Kushner, President Trump's Middle East envoy, arrived in Israel on Sunday and is expected to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday as part of renewed talks on a...
Jared Kushner, President Trump's Middle East envoy, arrived in Israel on Sunday and is expected to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday as part of renewed talks on a US‑backed Gaza peace plan.
The peace plan, promoted by Trump's Board of Peace, calls for the complete disarmament of Hamas, Israeli troop withdrawal and the establishment of a new civilian Palestinian administration in Gaza. Israel rejected the 15‑point plan last week, stating it would not withdraw until Hamas is fully disarmed. On Sunday, eight Muslim nations issued a joint statement condemning Israel's rejection of the plan.
Kushner met with a Hamas delegation led by Khalil al‑Hayya in Egypt on Sunday, a meeting described by a Palestinian official as the first high‑level contact between the sides since the 2023 ceasefire. The delegation was also attended by envoys Nickolay Mladenov and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, alongside representatives from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey.
During his visit, Kushner also met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al‑Sisi. Israeli media reported that Mladenov and Blair will meet Netanyahu on Monday to advance the US plan.
Netanyahu has said Israel will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed, rejecting the Board of Peace's 15‑point document. Far‑right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, in a podcast interview on 15 August, expressed disagreement with the prime minister and advocated for intensified operations, including targeted assassinations, remarks reported by the Associated Press and the Financial Times.
The Israeli military said on Sunday it struck Hamas and Islamic Jihad positions in Khan Younis and Nuseirat, injuring several people living in a tent camp, according to local medics. The ceasefire that took effect on October 10, 2023, remains in place, though the Israeli military has conducted near‑daily strikes since then. Hamas‑run Health Ministry figures, which the UN considers reliable, report more than 1,200 deaths since the ceasefire, including at least 300 children, according to UNICEF.
More than 73,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, including 21,280 children, and about 1.9 million of Gaza's 2.2 million residents have been displaced, UN estimates say. The conflict originated with a Hamas‑led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostage.
Kushner's meetings aim to clarify concrete steps for Hamas disarmament and troop withdrawal, but Israel has insisted that full disarmament must precede any withdrawal, and the outcome remains uncertain as the October election approaches.
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has resulted in at least 2,325 deaths, the highest toll recorded in the country's history, with 4,945 confirmed cases reported as of Sunday, according to government data. The 2018‑2020 outbreak in the region resulted in fewer than 2,000 deaths, while the 2014‑2016 West Africa epidemic caused 28,616 cases and 11,310 deaths across Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, according to the World Health Organization. On Friday, the United Nations warned that the epidemic was worsening and said the disease was killing one person every 30 minutes. Six of the country's 26 provinces have been affected, mainly along the northeastern border, and more than 3,400 cases have been recorded in Ituri province, where the outbreak was first identified. The latest figures show 101 new cases in the previous 24 hours. The virus is the Bundibugyo strain, for which no approved vaccines or treatments exist. Thomas Parisch, a public health specialist with Médecins Sans Frontières, said many cases are detected late, when treatment is less likely to succeed. Uganda has reported at least 20 cases, all in the capital, Kampala. The outbreak was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization in May. The virus spreads through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected individuals and through contaminated surfaces such as bedding or clothing. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, malaise, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, followed by vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, rash, and signs of impaired kidney and liver function. Health officials continue to monitor the spread as no specific vaccines or therapies are available for the current strain.
Israeli settlers erected tents for a new outpost near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, while a week‑long siege of the village of Qusra entered its second week, according to Al Jazeera reporter Tharwat Shakra. The outpost was set up in the Wadi Zeytun area near Umm Safa, and settlers also began establishing a separate outpost in the village of Burqa on the same day. The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that the number of outposts surrounding the two neighboring villages would rise to six if the new site is confirmed. Settlers seized roughly 4,700 of Umm Safa’s 4,800 dunams and 10,000 of Burqa’s 12,000 dunams, Shakra said. In Ras al‑Ain, south of Nablus, an Israeli settler siege on three families entered its second week, with 15 Palestinians, including two children, confined to their homes. Israeli soldiers rotated positions and erected a tent in front of the homes after dismantling a previous settler tent, and municipal crews later restored electricity and water to the families. On Sunday, settlers attacked a Palestinian home in Beit Imrin, north of Nablus, detaining occupants before Israeli forces arrived and arrested nine individuals; soldiers also blocked Red Crescent teams and confiscated ambulance keys. Additional incidents were reported in Nab’a al‑Kaabneh near Taybeh, in Turmus Aya, and in Hebron’s al‑Jaabri neighborhood, where Palestinians were injured, some by gunfire, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent. The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society said Israeli forces have increased arrests in towns where illegal outposts have been established, targeting residents who confront the attacks. United Nations special rapporteur Francesca Albanese told Al Jazeera that Israel has no right to conduct military incursions on Palestinian territory and must protect civilians, adding that the collaboration between officials and settlers appears to advance ethnic cleansing and constitutes terrorism, for which she called for investigations and prosecutions. Mustafa Barghouti, secretary‑general of the Palestinian National Initiative, described the situation as extremely dangerous, noting an average of 30 settler attacks per day and a campaign aimed at land seizure and displacement, urging international pressure on Washington. Israeli settlement activity has intensified since the October 2023 war in Gaza, with about 750,000 settlers living in 156 illegal settlements and 360 illegal outposts across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, according to Wafa. The United Nations recognizes these settlements as illegal under international law. The ongoing establishment of outposts and the associated violence remain unresolved challenges in the occupied territories.
Trump envoys traveled to the Middle East on August 16, 2026, to discuss a proposed peace plan for Gaza.
The plan seeks to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza and outline a framework for long‑term security arrangements. The conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began in October 2023, has resulted in widespread casualties and displacement. Previous U.S. administrations have pursued various diplomatic initiatives without achieving a lasting ceasefire.
During the meetings, the envoys said Washington is interested in a diplomatic resolution and urged regional partners to support a cease‑fire, the release of hostages, and the reconstruction of Gaza's infrastructure. Jordanian officials said they were reviewing the proposal, while Egyptian authorities emphasized the need for coordination with Palestinian authorities. Analysts noted that the plan faces significant obstacles, including mistrust between Israeli and Hamas leadership and competing regional interests.
The outcome of the discussions remains uncertain, and the next steps will depend on further negotiations between the parties involved.
Myanmar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had verified the presence of nearly 309,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Bangladeshi officials said security operations along the border and concerns about militant activity have slowed repatriation discussions. The ministry did not give a new timeline for return. Human rights groups noted that conditions in Rakhine remain untenable for many refugees. The delay highlights ongoing challenges to resolving the displacement.
Six people were killed and four were injured in a missile strike on Russia's Belgorod region overnight, according to the acting governor of Belgorod, Alexander Shuvaev, who posted the information on Telegram early Monday. Among the injured was a 14-year-old child who was taken to a hospital, and two other individuals received medical assistance. The strike hit a building and damaged a car in the village of Koloskovo in the Valuysky district, which lies near the border with Ukraine. The attack occurred after officials said it was the largest-scale Ukrainian attack this year, which killed at least seven people. On the same night, Russian attacks on Ukraine reportedly killed at least seven people and injured more than 39, according to reports. Moscow has intensified missile attacks across Ukraine in recent weeks, while Kyiv has stepped up drone strikes deep inside Russian territory. Both sides have accused each other of targeting civilians. The conflict continues without a ceasefire.
Four Renaissance paintings by Antonello da Messina were stolen from the MuMe Regional Interdisciplinary Museum in Messina, Sicily, at about 9:50 p.m. local time on August 16, the day before the Ferragosto holiday.
Antonello da Messina, active in the mid‑15th century, is considered a leading figure of the early Italian Renaissance. His surviving works are few, and the four pieces taken represent some of the rare examples that remain.
Police said the thieves cut a metal fence on Viale Annunziata, forced open a side door, entered the gallery halls and broke an armoured glass case to remove a double‑sided tempera panel dated 1465‑1474 and three sections of the San Gregorio Polyptych, a multi‑panel altarpiece commissioned in 1473. Two additional panels were found on the ground near the museum.
The works are estimated to be worth up to €80 million, according to Italian media. Museum director Marisa Mercurio told ANSA that the loss was significant.
Culture councillor Enzo Caruso said the incident was unusual for Messina. Lynda Albertson, chief executive of the ARCA art crimes research association, said high‑profile Antonello works are difficult to sell and often stay within criminal networks for long periods.
The theft follows a separate case in Parma earlier in the week, where police recovered three paintings by Renoir, Cezanne and Matisse valued at roughly $11.5 million.
Authorities have opened an investigation and have not released details about suspects. The recovery of the paintings remains pending.
More than 12,000 people remained displaced after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Indonesia on Saturday, killing 53 and injuring over 100, according to the national disaster agency.
The quake, centered off the north coast of Flores island, produced hundreds of aftershocks and left many residents sleeping outdoors out of fear of returning to damaged homes. Residents recalled a similar 7.7-magnitude quake that struck the island in 1992, triggering a tsunami and causing about 2,500 deaths.
The disaster agency reported that 12,800 people could not return to their homes, with at least 914 houses severely damaged and dozens of public buildings affected. Rescue teams continued search operations on land and from helicopters, though no missing persons had been reported.
The Indonesian Air Force airlifted 13 tons of emergency supplies, including food, water, clothing and medical equipment, using two transport planes and a helicopter to reach isolated communities. Military personnel have been deployed to assist distribution.
Residents expressed frustration over delayed assistance. Junaidin, a 32-year-old resident of Mbay, said his home was cracked and uninhabitable, and that he had been staying in a makeshift tent with about 30 others. He noted that no tents, medicine, food or drinking water had arrived, despite government celebrations of Independence Day in Jakarta.
Siti Saudah Daso, a 31-year-old mother of three, said she had fled with only the clothes on her back and emphasized the urgent need for aid.
Save the Children warned that more than 8,000 children faced safety risks and disruptions to education.
Search and rescue officials continued to comb the affected area, while authorities said additional aid was expected to arrive in the coming days. The incident underscores Indonesia's vulnerability to frequent earthquakes along the Pacific Ring of Fire.
At least six people were killed and several others injured in a stampede-like incident at the Ashok Dham temple in Lakhisarai, Bihar, India, after an electricity pole fell and caused electrocutions. The incident occurred during the holy month of Shravan, when a large number of devotees gathered at the temple to offer water to the Hindu god Shiva. Police officer Shivam Kumar told ANI that the exact cause is still under verification. Reuters reported at least five injuries, and video footage showed families gathering at hospitals. Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary posted on X expressing condolences and saying the administration has instructed officials to provide prompt treatment. Crowd accidents have been reported in India, including 30 deaths at the Maha Kumbh festival in 2025.
Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former President Donald Trump, met with Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya in Cairo on Sunday, according to a regional official and a Hamas official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Kushner, joined by envoy Steve Witkoff and representatives from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, discussed a U.S.-backed 15‑point roadmap intended to secure Hamas disarmament and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, a plan that has been stalled since the ceasefire ended major operations in May. The meeting, lasting more than two hours, was described by Hamas as a call for mediators and the U.S.-created Board of Peace to pressure Israel to approve the roadmap. Khalil al-Hayya said Hamas remains committed and is waiting for a 14‑day negotiation period to set a timetable for implementation, which requires approval from all parties. Hamas also demanded that Israel halt its military operations and withdraw to the so‑called yellow line, an undefined demarcation that currently separates about 60% of Gaza under Israeli control. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the 15‑point plan last week in a public statement, prompting condemnation from several regional powers, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia and the ceasefire mediators. The foreign ministers' statement accused Israel of obstructing peace efforts and urged the Board of Peace and the United States to take immediate measures to prevent any party from blocking the plan. Kushner will meet with Netanyahu on Monday, alongside former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Board of Peace director Nickolay Mladenov, according to diplomatic sources who requested anonymity for the closed‑door discussion. The White House declined to comment on the talks, referring inquiries to the Board of Peace, which has not issued a statement. The roadmap envisions Hamas handing its weapons to a Palestinian technocratic committee that has not yet entered Gaza; Hamas has linked surrender of its heaviest arms to the establishment of a Palestinian state, a condition Israel’s current government rejects. Netanyahu says Israel will not withdraw from any part of Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed, leaving reconstruction and deployment of international forces on hold. The Israeli election is scheduled for October 27, and Netanyahu’s coalition includes ministers with hardline positions on Gaza; the timing of decisive ceasefire steps remains uncertain. The outcome of the upcoming meetings remains unclear as both sides outline competing conditions for progress.
President Donald Trump instructed the Pentagon on Sunday to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, citing the cost of the drills and Seoul's refusal to take part in U.S. actions against Iran. The directive came hours before the scheduled start of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, which involves about 18,000 South Korean personnel. The exercises, conducted annually, are intended to demonstrate combined readiness and deter North Korean aggression. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the drills began as scheduled on Monday and declined to comment on Trump's remarks. The South Korean presidential office and its defense and foreign ministries did not immediately respond. Trump made the statement on his Truth Social platform, saying the exercises sent an inappropriate and hostile signal to North Korea and noting a very good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump has previously sought to limit or end these exercises, arguing that South Korea should shoulder a larger share of defense costs. The United States stations about 28,500 troops in South Korea, and the two allies have disagreed over cost‑sharing arrangements. South Korea's government has not announced details of a $350 billion investment commitment made under a 2023 trade deal that aims to lower U.S. auto tariffs. North Korea has recently tested ballistic missiles, including a launch from its eastern coast toward the Sea of Japan, which the South Korean and Japanese militaries reported. U.S. officials have warned that North Korean troops fighting in Ukraine may have gained experience that could be used in future attacks, and that North Korean‑made missiles were used in a Russian strike on a steel plant in Zaporizhzhia. Analysts suggested the reduction could be intended to create a diplomatic opening with Pyongyang, though they said the move is unlikely to influence North Korean behavior significantly. Victor Cha of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said Trump may be seeking greater influence over North Korea, while Jenny Town of the Stimson Center noted the haphazard nature of the decision. U.S. military officials said the exercises have shifted in recent years from live‑fire drills to computer‑simulated missile and cyber scenarios. Lieutenant General Joseph Jarrard warned that North Korea has tested intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching North America. It remains unclear how the Pentagon will implement the reduction or what impact the change will have on the U.S.–South Korea alliance and broader efforts to engage North Korea.
Jared Kushner, the U.S. envoy and son‑in‑law of former President Donald Trump, met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al‑Sisi in El‑Alamein, Egypt, on August 16, 2026. He is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday after talks with Hamas leaders in Egypt aimed at reviving a U.S.-backed Gaza peace plan. The meeting follows a Sunday encounter between Kushner and a Hamas chief, part of a diplomatic effort to advance the stalled Gaza ceasefire. Netanyahu has rejected the 15‑point roadmap proposed by the United States, and an Israeli lawmaker in his coalition has called for killing 30 to 40 people in Gaza each night, according to Palestinian media reports. The commander of U.S. Central Command praised the leadership of the USS Lincoln after a regional tour of the vessel concluded on Saturday, as reported by U.S. Central Command. The talks are intended to restart negotiations on a ceasefire and the future of Gaza, though no agreement has been reached.
Officials in Bihar reported that six people died after a stampede-like event at a temple on August 17, 2026. The incident occurred during a religious gathering, and authorities are investigating the cause.
A landslide in Geoje, South Korea, killed one person and injured two after record rains struck the southern region on Monday.
The city recorded more than 400 mm of rain overnight, the highest amount since meteorological records began in 1972, as part of a series of storms affecting East Asia.
Rescuers extracted three people from the debris of an apartment building; one victim later died. City officials said they closed several tourist attractions, suspended bus services and household waste collection, and urged residents to avoid driving and stay away from riverbanks. Strong currents flooded streets and left vehicles partially submerged.
The region has experienced consecutive storms that have caused flooding and landslides in China, Japan and the Philippines. Meteorologists said a strong El Niño event that began in June has intensified the typhoon season, leading to heavy rainfall.
In Japan, the heavy rain caused power outages for more than 20,000 households and contributed to a carbon monoxide death linked to generator use. Forecasters expect continued rain in the coming days, leaving the situation unresolved.
President Hakainde Hichilema appears to be leading the Zambian general election with nearly 59 percent of the vote counted, putting him on track for a possible outright win. His main opponent, Brian Mundubile of the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity, trails with about 33 percent. A candidate must exceed 50 percent to avoid a runoff, and final results are expected within days.
The vote began on Thursday and more than half of the country's constituencies had reported results by Sunday. The counting was suspended for about six hours on Friday after reports of violence against polling staff and allegations that ballots were stolen. The European Union observer mission described the pause as disproportionate.
A polling agent was killed near Lusaka and nine suspects were arrested. The opposition reported that armed personnel, which it says were members of the army, entered Mundubile's home on Friday night, fired live ammunition, wounded a member of parliament and removed several individuals whose whereabouts remain unconfirmed. Mundubile called the incident unacceptable and appealed for restraint, while the opposition urged urgent regional and international engagement.
United Party for National Development officials have said the opposition is exaggerating irregularities to cast doubt on the result. The EU mission noted that the election was competitive but tilted toward the incumbent, citing heavy bias in state media coverage and the blending of government activities with campaigning.
Zambia has transferred power peacefully through elections since 1991, and Hichilema won a landslide victory in 2021. His current term has seen economic growth, though more than 70 percent of the population lives on less than $3 a day, according to the World Bank.
Ukrainian forces have carried out a series of drone strikes on Wildberries distribution centers across Russia since July 18, damaging at least 20 facilities and causing billions of dollars in merchandise loss, according to reporting.
The attacks, which began in the town of Elektrostal east of Moscow and spread to sites in the Tambov region, the Urals and near Yekaterinburg, targeted the company’s large warehouses that store goods for online sale.
Wildberries operates roughly two dozen warehouses covering about 300,000 square meters each; damage assessments suggest up to 20 % of its total warehouse space may have been destroyed, with loss estimates reaching $6 billion. The company’s debt is reported at roughly $15 billion, and hundreds of thousands of individual sellers have lost inventory, creating financial strain on small businesses and on banks such as VTB that have extended loans to the retailer.
Ukrainian officials say the operations aim to disrupt military logistics and exert economic pressure on Russia, while Russian authorities deny that the platform supplies dual‑use items to the armed forces. Russian political figures, including former president Dmitry Medvedev and commentator Sergei Markov, have described the attacks as targeting ordinary citizens, whereas analysts such as Mark Galeotti of the Mayak Intelligence consultancy note that the facilities were not heavily defended.
Wildberries has said it is reinforcing its sites and reorganizing its supply chain into partner hubs, but the long‑term impact on the company, its sellers and the broader Russian economy remains unclear.
Cameroon beat Malawi 3-0 in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat on Sunday, claiming their first continental title.
The tournament, hosted by Morocco for the third consecutive edition, expanded from 12 to 16 teams, with the four highest‑ranked losers qualifying for the competition.
Marie Ngah scored twice and Naomi Eto added one goal, giving Cameroon a 20th‑minute lead, a 29th‑minute extension of that margin, and a third goal three minutes into added time.
Malawi, ranked 153rd worldwide, reached the final after defeating Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana and Algeria, while Cameroon had previously finished as runner‑up in 2004, 2014 and 2016. The victory earned Cameroon, Malawi, Algeria and Morocco spots in the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil, and South Africa and Ghana will contest inter‑continental playoff places.
The win marks a historic first for Cameroon, while Malawi’s run to the championship highlighted their rapid rise despite a low world ranking.